Torpedo-boat.



No. 876,564. PATENTED JAN. 14, 1908. s. LAKE. TORPEDO BOAT. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1907.

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PATENTED JAN. 14, 1908. S. LAKE.

TORPEDO BOAT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22. 1907.

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SIMON LAKE, OF BERLIN, GERMANY.

TORPEDO-BOAT.

Application filed March 22. 1907. Serial No. 363.941.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SIMON LAKE, a citizen of the United States, at present residing at 23 Friedrich Wilhelmstrasse, Berlin, Germany,

have invented a certain new and useful Imrovement in Torpedo-Boats, of which. the ollowing is a full, clear, and exact descrip tion.

' The object of this invention is to provide a torpedo boat with loading and storage tubes for holding spare torpedoes, by and through which tubes the torpedoes are loaded into. the firing tubes, and which are also employed to hold spare torpedoes in position to be readily inserted into the firing tubes after the initial discharge of the torpedoes in the said firing, tubes, said loading and storage tubes so arranged relatively to the firing or discharge tubes that the torpedoes may be wholly or partially withdrawn from within the firing or storage tubes for the purpose of ins ection or recharging, as is necessary before eing discharged, especially should -the torpedoes have been held in the tubes for any considerable length of time, means being provided for closing the ends of the tubes, and additional means operable from within the vessel for controlling the outboard caps or sea caps of the firing or discharge tubes.

The invention also has for its object a peculiar construction of the loading, storage and firin tubes, as well as other details, as will be fu 1y, set forth in the followin specification and then pointed out in the c aims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the invention, in the several figures of which like parts are similarly designated,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional elevation of a submergible torpedo boat, showing the location of my improved arrangement of firing tubes and storage and loading tubes. Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of the same illustrating the location of the loading hatches. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail horizontal section drawnion the hne 33 of Fig. 4, one of the firing tubes and loading tubes bemg'shown in elevation. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation drawn on the irregular line 4 -4 of Fig. 3. tion of one of the firing tubes and Fig. 6 is a cross-section of the same. i Fig. 7 is an en'- larged cross-section drawn on the line 77-of Fig. 3, and Fig. 8 is a similar view on the line 8 8 of Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is a detail cross-section drawn on the line 9-9 of Fig. 3. Fig.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fig. '5'is a longitudinal sec-' Patented Jan. 14, 1908.

10 is an enlarged detail section showing a slight modification in construction of the strips arranged in the storage tubes. Fig. 11 1s an enlarged detail section of the strips used in the firing tubes and showing the manner of securing them in position.

A designates the hull of a submergible torpedo boat, having an n per deck or super' structure B, the side wa s C, of which are secured to the hull in an suitable manner and extend from the hull in a vertical line substantially tangential therewith.

D designates the conning .tower, E the propellers, and F the rudder.

The superstructure is arranged some distance abovethe top of the circular hull of the vessel and in the space thus formed, fore and aft, are-the torpedo firing tubes G and G, respectively, whose inner ends extend into hatches H and H, and having hatch holes H and H res ectively, communicating therewith throug the superstructure.

Each firing tube is supported in osition in any suitable manner and each is c osed by a sea-cap I, which is hingedly connected to the outer end of the tube. To these hinged connections are connected crank arms I, and to these crank arms are connected links 1. whose opposite ends are connected to cranks I ,-held upon short vertical shafts I journaled in and projecting through stuffing boxes 1 secured to the top of the hull. The lower end of each shaft is provided with a worm wheel I, each engaged by a worm J, held upon the outer end ofshafts J ,i J ex-- tending longitudinally within the vessel, and which have 'theirinner ends arranged near the inner ends of the firing tubes and provided with hand wheels J by which the shafts are operated to open and close the seacaps. Where the shafts extend through the bulkheads of the vessel, I surround them with stufling boxes to prevent ingress of water from one compartment to another should 100 ranged as follows: In the bottom of each-.5110

tube are two longitudinal stri s K,- K that. extend nearly the entire lengt of the, tube Y are placed in a lathe and the strips .are cored or milled to provide a perfectly straight and K, which extend circumferentially from the strips K, K and connect each of the remaining strips- (See Figs. 3, 5,6 and 11).

The strips and bands are secured to the tube by screws or rivets whose heads are countersunk in the strips and bands and their outer ends are pro ected through the tube and headed to prevent accidental displacement. The manner of securing the ands is best illustrated in Fig. 11 of the drawings, and I have purposely omitted showing the fastenings in the remaining fig-' ures on'account'of the scale of the drawin After the tubes are thus constructed t ey even diameter throughout the length of the tube, which diameter is, of course, of a size to snugly fit a torpedo. It will be readilyseen by this construction the tubes are made much cheaper than those now used, and fur ther they present much less frictional surface to the torpedoes, and also by the use of the strips it is unnecessary to finish the interior of the tubes, as no part of the torpedo comes into contact therewith. As the bands connecting the strips of the firing tubes snugly fit the torpedoes, the discharge of the latter'is accomplished in the same manner as if the tubes snugly fit the sides thereof. It will also be seen that the tubes will not be incapacitated through being dented or' similarly injured as may happen in various ways.

Held in a space above the top of the hull, and in direct alinement with the aft torpedo tubes are the storage and loading tubes L, each of which is constructed with a vertical extension L, open at its upper end and whichextends through the superstructure B of the vessel.

The extensions are formed by the side plates L extending tangentially from the circular body portion of the tubes and conneoted at their ends by end plates L and L which are also secured to the circular body portion of the tube. The ends L are preferably arranged upon an angle to provide an upwardly tapering throat which facilitates the insertion of the torpedoes in the tubes L,

- as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

down tot the superstructure.

Theo ening of the extension of each tube is close by a hatch plate L which is bolted Each of the said tubes is also provided with guide strips L, held in the bottom and upon the sides of the tube. In practice I propose to make the loading and storage tubes.

be seen that this operation is exceedingly. simple and may be accomplished in veryage tubes M, having guide strips similar to those of the tubes L. The inner ends of each storage tube M projects into the conning tower and is closed by a cap M, preferably screwed in place, and which prevent ingress of water to the conning tower, should a leakage occur either through the hatches H and H, or the hatch covering the opening of the loading tubes.

As shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, the torpedoes are first lowered into each of the loading and storage tubes L through the openings L, from which they are first pushed forwardly through the tubes into the tubes M, and thence into the firing tubes in the fore part of the; vessel. are'then lowered and moved forward the storage tubes M, where they are allowed to remain. Other torpedoes are then lowered and moved rearwardly into the aft firing tubes, and finally the last torpedoes are lowered into and allowed to remain in It will thus Other torpedoes little time.

By the arrangement of the loading and storage tubes, a torpedo may be readily withdrawn from its firing tube for the purpose of inspection, or recharging. Thus, the torpedoes in the aft tubes are examined in the rear hatch by first withdrawing thetorpedoes in the loading and storage tubes into y into;

the conning tower, and then byopening theinner caps of the aft tubes, the torpedoes may be withdrawn and their rear ends inserted into the loading and storage tubes and examined as they are moved forwardly into the tubes, after which they are replaced and the torpedoes previously withdrawn from the storage tubes into the conning tower are replaced, having in the meantime been examined in the conning tower. The identical operation is also performed with respect to torpedoes carried in the forward tubes, as that described with respect to the torpedoes in the aft firing and storage tubes. It will also be seen that when a torpedo has been discharged another may be readily inserted in its place from the storage tube, held in longitudinal alinement withthe tube from' which the torpedo has been discharged.

While I have shown a construction and arrangementof firing and storage tubes, I

have not thought it necessary to show in detail the mechanismfor firing the torpedoes nor have I shown in detail the manner 0 securing the tubes in'position, as any suiteve,

able means maybe employed, and therefore do not make claim to such details, but What I do claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: v

' 1. A torpedo boat; provided with a firing tube, a'hatch into which it opens, a storage tube also opening into saidhatch and alined with the firingtube and having a loading hatch, and means for closing the said hatch. 2. A torpedo boat, provided with a firing tube, a storage tube alined with the firing tube and having a vertical extension projecting through the vessel to provide a loading hatch, and means for closing the hatch.

3. A torpedo boat, having a superstructure, and torpedo firing tubes held in the space formed by the superstructure and top of the hull of the vessel, a storage tube alined with the firing tube and having an extension which projects through the said superstructure to provide a loadinghatch and means for closing the hatch. I

4. A torpedo boat, having a superstructure, and torpedo firing tubes held in the space formed by the superstructure and hull of the vessel, a storage tube alined with the firing tubes, combined loading and storage tubes also in alinement with the firing tubes and each having an extension which projects through the superstructure to provide a loading hatch, and'a cover for the said hatch.

5. A torpedo boat, having a superstructure, and torpedo tubes held in the space formed by the superstructure and hull oi the vessel and fore and aft of the said ves-. sel, storage tubes alined with the fore firingtubes, combined loading and storage tubes alined with all of the aforementioned tubes and adjacent to the aft firing tubes, the said combined loading and storage tubes having extensions-which project through the superstructure to provide loading hatches through which the torpedoes are lowered and passed to the remaining tubes.

6. A torpedo boat,'having-a superstructure, and torpedo firing tubes held in the s ace formed by the said superstructure and t e hull of the vessel, outboard caps for closing the outer ends of the tubes hingedly held adjacent to the said tubes, crank arms con- .nected to said caps, a shaft journaled adjacent to each firing tube and having a crank at one end, a link connecting the crank with the crank carried by the cap, the inner end of each shaft rojecting through the hull oi." the vessel and having a worm wheel at its inner end, shafts j ournaled within the vessel and having Worms which engage the'worm Wheels and having their opposite ends pro-. vided with handles for revolving the shafts, hatches formed in the vessel into which the inner ends of the tubes and shafts project, storage tubes alined with the firing tubes,

,each having one end projecting into the hatches int'b which the firing tubes project and caps for closing the other ends of the stora e tubes. 7. It torpedo boat having a superstructure, fore and aft firing tubes arranged in the space formed by the superstructure and the hull of the vessel, hatches communicating with the said space and into which the inner ends of the firing tubes extend, storage tubes alined with the firing tubes and having their discharge ends extending into the hatchesinto which the loading ends of the firing tubes project, one set of the said storage tubes having extensions projecting through the superstructure and through which the torpedoes are loaded into all of the storage tubes and thence into the firing tubes, covers for closing the extensions, caps for closing the inner ends of the storage tubes, and means for closing the ends'of the firing tubes.

- 8. The combination with. a torpedo boat having a superstructure, and hatches communicating with the space formed by the superstructure and the hull of-the vessel, of torpedo firing tubeshaving their inner ends extending into the hatches, and storage and. loading tubes alined-with the firing tubes and each having one end extending into one of the hatches means for closing the other ends of the loading and storage tubes, means for closing the inner ends of the firing tubes, outboard caps closing the outer ends of the firing tubes and means operable from within the vessel for controlling the position of the said outboard caps.

9. In a torpedo boat, the combination with atorpedo firing tube, of a storage tube held in longitudinal alinement with the said firing tube but separated therefrom, thereby providing a space for the inspection offa torpedo asit is passed to or from the said firing tube.

10. In a torpedo boat, the combination -with a torpedo firing tube, of a storage tube V spection, one of the said storage tubes havingan extension which projects through the vesseland means for closing the said extension, and means for closing the inner ends of the said tubes.

12. In a torpedo boat, the combination with a torpedo firing tube having a removable cap and means arranged within the vessel for openingand closing the said cap, of a storage tube arranged in longitudinal alinement with the .firing tube and spaced therefrom so as to permit total or partial with drawal of the torpedo for inspection, an

extension formed upon the storage tube which extends through the vessel to permit the insertion of torpedoes into the firing tube without necessitating the opening of the outboard cap, and means for closing the opening of the said extension.

13. In a torpedo boat, the combination with torpedo firing tubes arranged fore and aft of the vessel, of a storage tube arranged means for closing the opening of the exten sion.

14. In a torpedo boat, having a conning tower, a superstructure and hatches communicating with the space formed by the superstructure, the combination with torpedo firing tubes held in the said space and having their inner ends extending into the hatches, of storage tubes also held in said space and each having one end extending into the said hatches and their opposite ends projecting into the conningtower, and means for closing the said ends within the tower. I

15. In a torpedo boat, having a conning tower, a superstructure and hatches arrangedin the hull in'the fore and aft part of the boat and communicating with the space between the top of the hull and superstructure, the combination with torpedo firing tubes, held in the space and ateach end of the vessel and having their inner ends extending into the said hatches, of stora e tubes held in the fore part of the vesse and having their forward ends extending into the hatch and their rear ends extend ng into the conning tower, a ca adapted to fit upon theinner' end of eac tube, loading and storage tubes arranged in the said space and in advance of the aft firing tubes, one end of the said loading and storage tubes being extended into the .rear hatch and their forward ends into the conning tower and having caps to fit upon the said forward ends, an extension formed u on each tube and projecting through the eck of the superstructure and a cover for each extended end, outboard caps for closing the firing tubes and means operable from within the vessel for opening and closing the said caps.

16. A torpedo boat, having a conning (part of the vessel and spaced tower, a superstructure and hatches cornmunicating with the space formed by the superstructure and the top of the vessel, torpedo firing tubes located in the said space fore and aft'of the vessel, the inner ends of the said tubes extendin into the hatch adjacent to the tubes and avin removable caps, an outboard cap pivotally old to each tube and means within the vessel for opening and closing the said outboard ca s, storage tubes held in the said space in t e fore part 'of the vessel and iii-longitudinalalinenient with the firing tubes, and having their forward ends pro'ecting into the hatch 4 in the forward art 0 the vessel and their rear ends exten ing into the conning tower, caps for closing the said ends, storage tubes also arranged in the said space in'the aft part of the vessel and having their rear ends projecting into'the hatch in the rearpart of the vessel and their forward ends into the conning tower, caps. for closing the said forward ends,'an extension formed I upon each of said storage tubes and projecting through the said superstructure thereby providing an opening through which torpedoes are inserted into the' tubes, and means for closing the open ends of the extensions.

17.- In a tor edo boat, the combination with tor edo ng tubes, of guide strips heldin t e tubes, storage tubes held in longitudinal alinement with the said firin tubes and having guide stri s arranged t erein, one of the said tubes aving an extension providing an opening through which toredoes are loaded into the tubes, and means or closing the o ening of the said extension. 18. A torpe o firing tube, for torpedo boats, comprising a tubular body: portion, guide strips arran ed therein t roughout the len th of the tu e and bands connecting the sai strips at intervals throughout the length of the strips.

1'9. A torpedo firing tube, com rising a tubular body portion having gui e strips arranged therein, said strips being arranged at diametrically opposite points within the tube, bands connecting the strips at intervals throughout the length thereof, and means for securin the strips to the tube.

20. A torpedo rin tube, constructed of a sheet of metal bent into tubular form and the ends welded to-provide a seamless tube, guide strips held Within the tube at the bottom, sides and top, the said bottom strips being slightly spaced apart to rovide a guide or race-way for the guide piece of the torpedo, and all of the strips provided with a smooth surface.

-In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 9th day of March A. D. 1907.

SIMON LAKE.

Witnesses: I

M. D. BLoriDEr. HENRY 'HASPER.

i follows: In line 62, page 2, the word tot It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 876,564, granted January 14, 1908, upon the application of Simon Lake, of Berlin, Germany, for an improvement in Torpedo-Boats, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction, as should read to, and in line 129, page the word outboard should be inserted before the word cap; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of January, 1)., 1908.

[SEAL] C. C. BILLINGS,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

